Labor steps up calls for private school tax by forcing a vote in the House of Commons TODAY

Labor will try to force a vote in the House of Commons today on its plans to hit private schools with a tax double-whammy.

Sir Keir Starmer wants to impose VAT on independent schools and scrap the 80 per cent relief they get from business tariffs.

His party will argue today that ending the “tax breaks” could raise enough money to hire 6,500 more teachers to raise standards.

But Labor was warned last night that attempts to pit private schools against state schools would not achieve that goal.

Sir Keir Starmer wants to impose VAT on independent schools and scrap the 80 per cent relief they get from business tariffs. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer in the House of Commons, December 14, 2022

Around 15 percent of the country’s private public schools could be forced to close as a result of the plan. Others, however, would pass VAT on to parents, making many middle-class families overpriced.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, which represents 1,300 schools, said: “We all want the best possible education for every child.

“But taxing parents and trying to pit different parts of the education sector against each other is simply not the way to achieve that goal – especially in a teacher hiring crisis.

“Rather than continue to pursue ideological policies that would not raise the money they are asking, Labor should look for fiscally sound ways of working with independent schools to build on the good partnership work already done to improve educational opportunities for all.”

Labor will today use an opposition day motion in the House of Commons to try to persuade ministers to set up a new committee that would deal with reforming the tax benefits of private schools.

It comes as the party releases an analysis showing the number of teachers leaving the classroom has surpassed the number hired for the profession over the last year.

Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson (left) said: Labor recognizes that after thirteen years of Conservative economic mismanagement… tough decisions must be made to protect public finances.

According to the official figures, there were 36,262 graduates in the teaching profession in 2020/21, but only 34,394 newcomers to the profession in teacher training, so that 1,868 are too few.

Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Labour believes excellence is for all: that’s why we would end the tax breaks for private schools and invest that money in 6,500 extra teachers, reducing the workload and raising standards in all our state schools through our National Excellence Program.

“Labor recognizes that after thirteen years of Conservative economic mismanagement, culminating in the Conservative collapse of the economy last year, tough decisions must be made to protect public finances – but the decision facing MPs today is simple.

“Conservative MPs can either vote to provide every child with a brilliant state of education, or they can vote against the interests of parents across the country who strive for better things for their children, particularly in the regions their party wants to ‘rise’ has promised. ‘

Labor faced a backlash late last year after the Mail detailed how Sir Keir Jeremy Corbyn will maintain his policy of abolishing private schools’ non-profit status, which exempts them from VAT on parental fees.